Candice Kerns; Leukemia Victim, 15, Was Active in Athletics, Church

Candice Kerns, an all-star student athlete at Los Angeles Baptist High School who had compassion for people and a love for animals, died Tuesday after a brief illness. She was 15.

Candice, who would have celebrated her 16th birthday Friday, had been hospitalized with leukemia since Dec. 7, according to Father Gregory Safchuk of St. Innocent Orthodox Church in Tarzana, where the Kerns family worships.

“She was my Christmas present 16 years ago, and she was taken away too soon,” Candice’s father, Shad Kerns, told Safchuk.

Born in North Hills, Candice played soccer and softball and ran cross country for her high school. The outgoing teenager was remembered Friday by friends, school officials and church leaders as an excellent athlete and person of compassion.

Candice was baptized as an infant at St. Innocent and later attended its church school, sang in the youth choir, participated in the youth group and served as a Handmaiden, one of several girls who serve during the liturgy.

Candice attended grade school at St. Nicholas School in Northridge, where she sang in the children’s choir.

In the eighth grade, Candice was awarded the President’s Award for Academic Fitness. In her spare time she played on American Youth Soccer Organization teams and collected unicorns.

At Los Angeles Baptist, Principal Gary Smidderks remembered Candice as someone who possessed an “indomitable spirit to always do the best she could.”

In notes written by fellow students in tribute to Candice, Smidderks said one overall theme emerged: “She never criticized anyone, and she tried to be an encouragement to everyone.”

Safchuk, who characterized Candice as unassuming and self-effacing, said he believed she would be embarrassed by all of the attention.

“She was a person who didn’t like to grab the spotlight at all. She was not a hot dog or a star,” he said. “But hundreds and hundreds of people from school, sports and church are converging in her name.”

Candice is survived by her parents, Shad and De Ette Kerns; her brother, Keith; stepbrother Vince; and several other relatives.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Innocent, 5657 Lindley Ave., Tarzana. Interment will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, 22601 Lassen St., Chatsworth.